Four research tracks

Since 1990 the overall research has been on colorectal cancer and other neoplastic non-bowel lesions with focus on:

Tumorigenesis

Invasion and metastasis processes

Treatment

Recurrence

Prognosis

Prediction

Selection

Monitoring

Presently achieved overall results

The research has currently identified blood-based biomarkers that may identify subjects with:

Colorectal cancer – all stages

Adenomas – all categories

Extra-colonic malignancies

High-risk of developing subsequent malignancy

Background for our current research

Colorectal cancer (CRC= bowel cancer) is an age related disease.
Symptoms with the disease are often not recognized until the late stages of the disease,
where complete cure is hardly achievable.

Annually, approximately 2,300 Danes die from the disease—and > 5.400 new diagnoses are established.At present, about 26.500 Danes have the diagnosis of which 55-60% are estimated to survive > 5 years

Coloectal Cancer is curable if diagnosed in the early stages

Population screening has been implemented as part of the entire dealing with the disease

The current screening in Denmark

At present, the screening in Denmark is based on a FIT test (a test for occult blood in feces),
where a FIT-positive screening-test will activate an offer of a subsequent colonoscopy

The FIT test has a sensitivity of 75% at 90–95% specificity—thus,at present, being the most cost/effective model for the Danish screening

The current compliance rate is 60-65%

Just 45-50% of those with neoplastic bowel lesions will be identified by the FIT screening

I.e. 50-55% of those in the screening relevant population with a neoplastic bowel lesion is not identified—mostly due to the lack of compliance in the general screening

The success of The Danish CRC-screening with findings of many with the disease as well as adenomas (premalignant lesions) plus the reduction in 2018 of the screening interval from 4 to just 2 years has led to waiting time for colonoscopy.
To day the overall demand of colonoscopies (screening, diagnostic and adenoma control colonoscopies) far exceeds the Danish examination capacity, in total, and the waiting period for screening derivatives as well as the diagnostic colonoscopies,often exceeds the statutory 14 days.